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Vancomycin Trough
Test CodeVANCT
Alias/See Also
VANC, VANCO
Preferred Specimen
1.0 mL plasma (0.5 mL minimum)
Instructions
Collect specimen immediately before dose (within thirty [30] minutes).
Verify that the next dose has not yet been given.
Verify that the next dose has not yet been given.
Transport Container
PST (light green top). Red top and SST also acceptable
Specimen Stability
Room temperature: 8 hours, Refrigerated: 2 days, Frozen: 1 month
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Grossly hemolyzed specimens are unacceptable.
Reference Range
10.0 - 20.0 ug/mL
Clinical Significance
Vancomycin is an antibiotic effective against most gram positive bacteria. It is especially important in the treatment of infections due to methicillin and cephalosporin resistant organisms. Current usage is generally limited to those infections in which other antibiotics are ineffective or contraindicated. Vancomycin has several deleterious effects on bacterial metabolism. Vancomycin is eliminated from the body be excretion by the kidneys. Plasma half-life varies with the patient’s age and kidney function and can be approximated from the creatinine clearance rate. Lasting effects involve auditory nerve and kidney function. Ototoxicity (hearing loss) tends to be permanent and dose-dependent. Ototoxicity is of particular concern in patients who are also given aminoglycosides. Nephrotoxicity due to vancomycin alone is uncommon and usually reversible.
